The Ripple Effect - Where are we now? Chapter five takes a more in-depth look at what has changed for New Zealand in the last year, focussing on gun law reform and healing the rupture of the New Zealand psyche.
Three days after the Christchurch terror attack, survivor Farid Ahmed's message of hope, love and forgiveness - even as he grieved for his slain wife - touched many.
His wife Husna Ahmed was killed at the Al Noor mosque.
She had guided the women and children to safety and ranback in several times to find her husband, who uses a wheelchair.
Farid Ahmed had managed to escape and was hiding just metres from where his love was gunned down.
My opportunity to be lazy while my wife was supporting me has decreased and I am forced to cope with more voluntary work for the sake of peace, unity for mankind.
I am more courageous now and I am more giving than before.
I feel people have given me lots of love, prayers and support over the last year- especially, Christchurch residents and kind-hearted Kiwis who have shown extraordinary love and compassion towards me and towards other Muslims.
Through my international participation I received praises from delegates all over the world about Kiwis' loving spirit.
Life is too short, I can die in any moment, so I should do as much good as possible towards others to please my Lord.
Love always wins
Love wins hearts, but hate does not.
Kiwis are loving and compassionate and that wins hearts from people all around the world - hate would not have.
Muslims took the path of patience and love which earned love back - hate could not have done that.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's "we are one" policy has won hearts - a hate policy would not have.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern waves to the crowd after attending the huge Friday pray meeting that was held in Hagley Park Christchurch a week after the attack. Photo / NZ Herald
First responders on March 15 2019 risked their lives to save lives out of love which made them our heroes - hate could not have done that.
Those killed in the mosque attacks inspired me through their lives to spread peace to avoid further life loss - not to spread hate.
On the other hand, hate took away precious lives, maimed many but could not take love from hearts.
Hate attempted to break our nation, to cause fights, to make us victims of racism, to seek blood from one another, to destroy our economy, to tarnish our peaceful image in this world, to pollute our hearts.
But it failed terribly.
Together we made the hate fail terribly.
Ambulance staff treat a man injured in the Al Noor mosque shooting. Photo / NZ Herald
Congratulations New Zealand - you prove to be number one in love and compassion.
Flowers and tributes at the Al Huda Mosque in Dunedin following the attack on the Christchurch mosques. Photo / Dean Purcell
We have seen Muslims victims, instead of getting angry, greeting their visitors with a smile and salaam (peace greeting).
That is a sign of hope.
We have witnessed loving responses from the international community.
That is a sign of hope.
So, let us be proactive in sharing our kindness towards one and other.
With a smile, saying hello, waving, caring for families and neighbours and promoting tolerance and peace to make the world safe for our next generations.
Let us accept the fact that terrorism, hate and killing does not represent any race, religion or nationally - rather it is an evil act of individuals.
Let us work together to defeat the hate and to win the love.
Farid Ahmed has published a book about the terror attack - which is also a tribute to his late wife. It was released on March 3 and published by Allen & Unwin.
